Settle For or Settle In?

Some people choose to SETTLE FOR a life that is less than they dream of, while other people decide to SETTLE IN while they move toward their dreams, persisting until every one of them comes to fruition.

It’s a subtle difference in the word combination with very different meanings, actions, and results.

What does it mean to settle? Some definitions I found include:

To quiet, calm or bring to rest.

To stop from annoying or opposing. (“A sharp word will settle that youngster.”)

To cause to sink.

To make compact.

To dispose of, close up.

To terminate.

To sink down gradually.

To sink to the bottom.

To me, when I think about settling I think about playing small, which always reminds me of my favorite quote from Marianne Williamson:

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?’ Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. YOU PLAYING SMALL DOES NOT SERVE THE WORLD. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Do not settle for less than you deserve from this world. Do not settle for being less than this world deserves from you.

~ Lori Ann King

Settling FOR is a decision where you know there is more good things out in the world for you or more good things in you for the world. Either way, when we decide to settle, we give up on our dreams. We stop trying in our life, career, finances, health, relationships or personal development.

The flip side is we can settle IN, dig deep, and go for it!

Perhaps you’ve settled for a house or apartment that’s not your dream home. You can settle in, enjoy it, express gratitude, and make it as comfortable and homey as possible WHILE you focus and work toward saving for a down payment and building up your credit score.

Maybe it’s your job or career your settling for. You aren’t passionate about what you do and you live for the weekend. You don’t have to settle there. Explore your passions and purpose and then find ways to nurture them outside of your job, building skills and experience until one day your dream job or career comes to fruition.

And how about financially? Are you settling for less, living without or cutting your expenses to beyond what is comfortable? What if instead of settling you were to save more, give more, grow your income and add an additional stream of income?

In health and fitness, have you plateaued or settled for feeling less than your best? Perhaps it is time to settle in, take action with consistency in regard to nutrition and exercise until you feel amazing and perform at your best.

Finally, in your relationship, are you settling? Last month, at an Isagenix event in Phoenix, Chris Harder closed out the convention. He spoke about a time when his wife, Lori was growing by leaps and bounds and was at a really high level of personal development and energy. He knew he was at a much lower level and wasn’t putting in the same amount of effort. He knew that if he settled for less than he was capable of, there would come a time when she outgrew him and they may not be able to stay together. So he settled in and did the work, developing himself and growing with her, creating a beautiful life together in the process that impacts thousands of people every single day.

Whichever partner you are, have a conversation with your loved ones or close companions. Open your heart, share your dreams, and gain support. And then make a commitment to yourself to never settle for less than you deserve or are capable of giving.

Settle in, do the work, stay focused, consistent and persistent until every single one of your dreams come to fruition and you are living a life of fire with passion and purpose.